Medicare is in trouble.

Social Security is in trouble.

Yet we have a president and Congress that are hellbent on passing another entitlement that we can’t pay for. We will still have people that are uninsured. Mayo Clinic just announced that they will no longer take Medicare patients ($800 million in debt). How many hospitals will follow suit?

Why can’t we fix what’s broken first? Congress won’t consider tort reform or insurance across state lines. (Too many lawyers in Congress!) Why don’t we ask the people that provide our health care to help work on a solution?

When our debt doubles in five years and triples in 10 years, and the interest on our debt will be 85 percent of our tax dollar, there will be no Social Security or Medicare.

Forty cents of every dollar of our 2010 budget is borrowed money. Barack Obama says, “Our spending cannot be sustained,” yet just about every day he comes up with another spending program. Is he one of the 27 percent that thinks the government has its own money?

If you think our economy is on the mend, don’t be deceived. If Obama and Congress don’t change their game plan, we will all suffer.

Congress thinks liberalism will fix problems even though liberalism is what caused the problem in the first place.

Thomas Jefferson said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”

Elaine Davis

High Point


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The insurance industry-run system has failed us

I just had a conversation with a friend of mine who is recovering from a heart attack. He is self-employed and has no insurance because the premiums were so high. He has been saving substantial amounts to pay for care if he needed it. He has depleted his savings and taken out a second mortgage on his house to pay his hospital and doctor bills.

Now, he is facing a loss of his business in the next few months. This is a hardworking, highly competent professional who is facing losing his home, which is almost paid for and going into bankruptcy because the insurance industry has failed him and most of the rest of the country.

I am ashamed of the congressmen and senators who have sold out to the insurance industry and are blocking many people like my friend from access to help when they need it.

I hope some of them will have the courage to do the right thing and vote yes for President Obama’s health care reform.

Ken Knight

Greensboro


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A county sheriff needs honesty and integrity

As a resident of Davidson County, a former student of criminal justice and the proud sister of a law enforcement officer, I know the most important components of a law enforcement officer are honesty and integrity.

There are law enforcement officers who are on our streets day and night putting their lives on the line; these officers take that creed seriously.

It is a very important job. To be a sheriff it is important to have integrity and honesty to be able to lead in such an important position.

I don’t understand how a sheriff that was convicted of felonies that went against that creed can run for sheriff. I don’t believe in double standards. If a regular person wanted a job in law enforcement, they would have a criminal background check, and if a felony showed up they would not get the job. Why should it be any different as sheriff?

Sheriff David Grice is a behind-the-scenes sheriff. He doesn’t bask in the glory. Some people think he doesn’t do his job because you will not see Sheriff Grice on TV unless he needs to be.

Sheriff Grice does do his job, though not the commando way we all got used to under Hege’s reign. I know Sheriff Grice; he was my instructor at Davidson County Community College, but that is not why I am writing. I am writing in support of every law enforcement officer that goes to work and takes his job seriously. The officers who would never go against the officers’ creed. The ones who put the badge on every day not knowing if they will come home.

Is it fair to them when we vote someone into office as sheriff who broke the laws they are sworn to uphold?

Sherry Brown

High Point


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This novice politician wants real change in Washington

Latimer Alexander (Your View, Feb. 9, “Vote Coble in GOP primary for 6th District”) is right that my wife, Cathy Brewer Hinson, is a novice politician.

She is a novice politician who believes in term limits and one who believes members of Congress should live by the same rules as the rest of the citizens of the country – such as Social Security retirement, no salary increases while the rest of us continue to pay for those increases with higher taxes. She is one who believes that uncontrolled government spending is not the answer to paying off our national debt. She, like many others, was not as active as she could have been in the past, but times like these would wake-up even Rip Van Winkle!

We say we want change, but we continue to elect the same people while expecting results to be different. She knows that the bigger government grows, the less money the private sector has … along with their freedoms! As far as government programs go, she believes it would be better to “teach a person to fish” rather than to become a ward of the state.

Same old politics, divide and confuse. Congress is in gridlock. In our opinion, the more career politicians that are voted out, the louder the people’s voice will be heard. Visit us at www.votehinson.com.

Bryant Hinson

High Point


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Remember this next time you go to the polls

Some people, during their lives, might have what some doctors might call an identity crisis. It might help you find your true self if, when you go to the polls the next time, ask yourself before pushing the button, am I voting for this candidate for what he or she promises to give me, or am I voting for a candidate who has promised to take less from me.

Ken Sawyer

High Point


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YOUR VIEW POLLS

What must the U.S. do in dealing with Iran since that nation acknowledges producing near weapons-grade uranium? In 30 words or less (no name, address required), e-mail us your thoughts to letterbox@hpe. com.

Should the U.S. military remove the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gays serving in the armed forces? In 30 words or less (no name, address required), e-mail us your thoughts to letterbox@hpe. com.